Yesterday Liza and I hit up some garage sales and came home with some pretty nice finds. I have for forever now been searching for a lamp shade and I finally found one! It was a great completion to my weekend project.

I started with this.

Here is who typically accompanies me on projects but never seems to stay too long. Ha.

Some supplies.

I got this idea to reupholster the lamp. With some old pages from a book. And so with a little wall paper glue and a paint brush I kinda did.

Here is the final product with the lamp shade I just scored on top! I am pretty pleased at how it turned out, especially because I have secretly started hating that lamp and have been contemplating getting rid of it as all hope for ever finding a lamp shade died.

I have a feeling there will be more of such reupholstering to come. Try it. Super easy.

Our trip to the city earlier this week was pretty much perfect. We ate amazing food and drank lots of amazing coffee. Browsed many shops… have you been to “Behind the Post Office”? Such a cute boutique! I cant seem to find them online, and what a shame. Walked around in the rain and searched for shells at the beach. For my daughters ok?

Russian bakery is always a stop for us. Chibareki and trubachki are well worth the typical russian bad service.

We have also come to love Tartine Bakery in the mission district. All organic and mostly local, this little place is our favorite for morning coffee and treat. The hotel we stayed at lets you borrow bikes! And we were so looking forward to riding to the cafe, but unforch it was raining that morning. Still getting up so early was rewarded with first choice, and man is their stuff so good! You should definitely visit next time you are in the area.

I am trying to figure out this whole blogging thing, right? hence the little changes here and there every so often. I will keep doing that, just so you know, until I am a little more proud of it.

So. A few big announcements! As you will see to the right, my first attempt at an etsy shop. Its in the very beginning stages, as I am quickly learning that it takes a little more effort and time than I originally thought. Anywho, there are a few items listed, but there is many more coming, and once those babies are up I will be making a little bigger deal about it. Buuuut, since the link is now up, you are welcome to wander over there and take a peak.

Also, I am a (soon to be) co-contributor to the suitcase collectiv etsy shop. You should check it out yo! Beautiful people making some beautiful things.

Last Sunday we planted our first garden! I wanted to go out today and snap some pictures of it to share, but its all rainy outside. Delicious noise shared some photos from our planting day, so you know. Pretty proud of us!

Nows all I need is this cook book.

I took a glance at it the other day and I just NEED to have it. I am pretty unhappy with my pathetic current cookbook collection, this one would definitely get some use, unlike the other ones. The recipes looked so simple and easy and all things I like.

Another announcement. Husband got me a bike! It needs lots of work but he is putting in the time and custom building it for me. He’s the greatest really. Can’t wait until its ready!

I’ve been coming upon all things fox, since the short person’s fifth birthday is shaping out to be fox themed. Having such a pretty print hanging around wouldn’t hurt…

we’re kicking in our 7th year of the whole married thing today.
conveniently we were at a wedding last night and snapped this picture (thanks Ryan)

I love l o v e this one!
He’s really pretty much the best husband ever. Happy anni to us! We are celebrating with a little trip to the bay area. Super excited. The short people will hang out with grandma. So overdue, let me tell ya.

We’re staying at the Good Hotel. (the first for us, so we’ll see…) But its pretty close to just about everything and looks fun.
I cant wait to get my latte and scone from Tartine’s! Also on the list: Russian bakery and our favorite thai place. Bundling up and sitting at the beach and walking around the streets aimlessly.

hello hello
we’re fresh off the boat from graeagle. a beautiful tiny little town of a place in plumas county.

It was so reminiscent of my childhood summers. There isn’t much to do but soak in the outdoorsy-ness or read. We took walks and saw some forest critters. Jump roped and hopscotched. Got in trouble for trespassing (but of course because we are russians). I also picked up Omnivore’s Dilemma to re-start reading.Goodness. Pretty enlightening.

It was (almost) a week worth spent. Ok, a little less than a week, but it sure felt like it. A bit colder this year than our last visit, but we kept cozy inside with our french press coffee and cabin blankets.

Not gonna lie, we are city dwellers at heart. And it is pretty nice to be back home. Missed our little midtown treehouse and all the noise. Yes, even you two drunk guys singing Blink-182 “Please Tell Me Why” right now… white noise to me.

This month seems like is just flying by. And it feels like summer time already, tomorrow we’re planning on going for the first swim of the season. What?! (I know, I know for some of you that’s already been done). And next week its VA-CA for the husband. SO we have a few little getaways planned here and there.

This all means plans better be well on the way for my oldest daughter’s FIFTH birthday which is coming up fast at the beginning of next month. Tear. They grow so fast.

For someone who doesn’t really enjoy celebrating my own birthdays, I do enjoy hosting them for my girls (and husband).

Here is Tessa’s 1st year celebration a few months back.

Tessa flipping of the photographer? Birthdays in general? If she takes after her mama.

But anyway, we are looking forward to celebrating little Eva turning five. Last year we had an Indian theme for her and I sewed a 4 1/2 foot teepee to have up in the back yard. It was fun, and we still set it up inside to play in. Wont be sewing much for this year’s festivities but hope it will be just as memorable for her.

Seriously. When my husband was on his trip to New Orleans he picked up a cajun spice that’s titled “Slap Ya Mama.” And he says that a lot of their cuisine includes such spice blends with catchy names. Anywho, he’s been throwing it on everything and tonight I added it to my garlic tomato and carrot stir fry that we pile on top of tilapia and rice. (I also cover the whole thing with cilantro). It was pretty darn good! My girls pretty much inhale it whenever I make tilapia, its becoming quite the staple here.

For dessert I had my latest obsession: brown rice cake spread with almond butter and sprinkled with chocolate chips. OH MY GOSH! Its like a candy bar, but way better. Rice cakes: Trader Joe’s brand. These are seriously the best brown rice cakes. I am loving the almond butter with roasted flax seed also by Trader Joe’s. Its probably the tastiest ‘cheap’ almond butter around, in my opinion anyway. I know there is good quality ones out there but they are so darn pricey and we go through a whole latta almond butter, so ya. Give this snack a try. Its so yummy.

Speaking of almond butter, I am going to try to recreate these PB&J sushi rolls Serious Eats had recently featured.

Doesn’t that look so fun? I think my girls would love it. Tessa hasn’t been introduced to sushi yet. I know- sad. We will need to break her in soon. I was actually wanting to make some homemade sushi. I’ve been hanging on to this kid friendly ice-cube tray sushi recipe for so long… its ridiculous.

Here is litte Eva, probably 1 1/2 here, using her chop stick skills. She was good.

Did a little shoot earlier today of the kids in some pieces from the whitecrow children vintage collection. Yup. They did so great. Here is a little sneak peak of a few of my favorites. Love these four. So much!